PESHAWAR: After days of political drama over the resignation of Ali Amin Gandapur and the election of his successor, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed lawmaker Sohail Afridi on Wednesday took oath as the new chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Governor Faisal Karim Kundi administered the oath at the Governor House following the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) directive that he must perform the duty by 4pm or else the assembly speaker would do so.

Afridi’s election as chief executive took place on October 13 amid an opposition boycott. He secured 90 votes in the provincial assembly, while the candidates of JUI-F, PML-N and PPP did not receive any as their members staged a walkout.

Gandapur had stepped down on October 8 on the directives of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, who nominated Afridi as his replacement.

Afridi, a young PTI leader from Bara tehsil of Khyber district, previously served as provincial minister for higher education. Regarded as one of PTI’s ideological and grassroots-based members, he has been associated with the party since his student days.

In a congratulatory message from jail, Imran Khan directed Afridi to work with all stakeholders to devise a comprehensive strategy against terrorism in the province, stressing that durable peace was vital for economic revival.

Read More: PHC orders KP Governor to swear in CM-elect Sohail Afridi

“I once again direct the new Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to engage with all stakeholders to formulate an effective and comprehensive strategy against terrorism so that lasting peace can be established in the province,” he said.

Calling Afridi his “opening batsman”, the PTI founder urged him to “play with confidence” and lead the province in line with the party’s ideology.

He also praised Gandapur for smoothly stepping down and commended the KP assembly members for standing “firm on their ideology” by voting for Afridi without hesitation.